Scheduling trigger apparatus and method

• US 9,060,100 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2006
• Issued: 06/16/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Boortz, Jeffery Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): Flynn, Nathan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Castro, Alfonso
• Application Number:
  US11/460,095
• Publication Number:
  US 20060259924A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,247 Days
• Field of Search: 725 1- 8, 725 32- 36, 725/58, 725/60, 386291-299
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2347 involving video stream encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2353 specifically adapted to content descriptors, e.g. coding, compressing or processing of metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23892 involving embedding information at multiplex stream level, e.g. embedding a watermark at packet level
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/262 Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission, generating play-lists scheduling strategies for dispatcher in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/4881; arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services H04H60/06; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; establishing a time schedule or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26258 for generating a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlist, or scheduling item distribution according to such list retrieval of multimedia data based on playlists G06F16/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4135 external recorder interface circuits between an apparatus for recording television signals and a television receiver H04N5/775
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42209 for displaying non-command information, e.g. electronic program guide [EPG], e-mail, messages or a second television channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4227 Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4353 involving decryption of additional data arrangements using cryptography for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/23
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4383 Accessing a communication channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44016 involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for substituting a video clip
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47211 for requesting pay-per-view content payment schemes payment architectures or payment protocols G06Q20/00, G07F
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4825 using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6118 : involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/63345 : by transmitting keys key distribution for secret or secure communication H04L9/08; network support of key management H04L63/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 : IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8106 : involving special audio data, e.g. different tracks for different languages
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17327 : with deferred transmission or handling of upstream communications

Abstract

A method of alerting a user of a scheduled event on a network includes transmitting a promotion to a first consumer premises equipment (“CPE”), the promotion being associated with event scheduling metadata, and causing the event scheduling metadata to be transmitted from the first CPE to a second CPE based on a selection of the promotion at the first CPE. The method further includes causing a reminder message to be transmitted from the second CPE to the first CPE based on the event scheduling metadata.

Claims

1. A method of alerting a user of a scheduled event on a network, the method comprising:

transmitting a promotion to a first consumer premises equipment (“

CPE”

), the promotion being associated with event scheduling metadata;

causing the event scheduling metadata to be transmitted from the first CPE to a second CPE based on a selection of the promotion at the first CPE;

causing a reminder message to be transmitted from the second CPE to the first CPE based on the event scheduling metadata;

when programming media content associated with the promotion conflicts with at least one other scheduled content, prompting the user to select only one of the programming media content and the at least one other scheduled content for viewing; and

causing the selected one of the programming media content and the at least one other scheduled content to be automatically transmitted to the second CPE from the network, and an unselected one to be automatically transmitted to the first CPE from the network.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the reminder message is transmitted from the second CPE to the first CPE via the network.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the reminder message is wirelessly transmitted from the second CPE to the network.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the reminder message is wirelessly transmitted from the network to the first CPE.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the reminder message is transmitted directly from the second CPE to the first CPE.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising activating delivery of an alert based on the reminder message.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the alert comprises an audio or visual alert.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the network comprises a cable or satellite television network.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the reminder message is transmitted prior to the scheduled event.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the reminder message further comprises time, date, and channel data.

11. A method of accomplishing delivery of media content on a network, the method comprising:

transmitting a promotion to a first device based at least in part on selection metrics associated with a first user of the first device, the promotion being associated with linear media content available at a prescribed time in the future and having event scheduling metadata associated therewith, the promotion further comprising data invoking the first device to extract event scheduling metadata therefrom to generate a metadata file;

causing the metadata file to be transmitted from the first device to a second device based on a selection of the promotion at the first device, the first and second devices being associated with the first user having access to a scheduling application associated with the second device;

responsively updating the selection metrics based on the selection of the promotion;

causing a reminder message to be transmitted from the second device to the first device before the prescribed time but after the act of transmitting the promotion, based on the event scheduling metadata; and

causing the linear media content associated with the promotion to be transmitted to the second device at the prescribed time based on the selection of the promotion at the first device and without intervention of the second device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the reminder message is transmitted from the second device to the first device via the network.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the reminder message is wirelessly transmitted from the second device to the network.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the reminder message is wirelessly transmitted from the network to the first device.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the reminder message is transmitted directly from the second device to the first device.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising activating delivery of an alert based on the reminder message, the alert comprising an audio or visual alert.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the reminder message comprises time, date, and channel data.

18. A method of accomplishing delivery of media content on a network, said method comprising:

receiving a promotion at a first consumer premises equipment (“

CPE”

), said promotion relating to a scheduled event;

receiving a scheduling metadata file associated with said scheduled event at said first CPE, said scheduling metadata file being received separate from said act of receiving said promotion;

transmitting only said scheduling metadata file from said first CPE to a second CPE in communication therewith, a first user of said first CPE having access to a scheduling application on said second CPE;

receiving at said first CPE prior to said scheduled event a reminder message directly from said second CPE, said second CPE generating said reminder message based at least in part on said scheduling metadata file; and

transmitting a request from said first CPE to said network, said request causing programming content associated with said scheduled event to be automatically, and without intervention of a second user of said second device, transmitted to said second CPE directly from said network via an Internet connection, said act of transmitting said programming content associated with said scheduled event overriding a playback of a conflicting event in a viewing schedule selected by said second user of said second device.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising transmitting one or more metrics to said network, said one or more metrics identifying said conflicting event that has been overridden.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said transmitted one or more metrics further identify a viewing profile.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said viewing profile is further associated with one of said first or said second users.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein said viewing profile is further associated with a household audience.

23. A consumer premises equipment (“

CPE”

) comprising;

a receiver configured to receive first and second event scheduling metadata for first and second conflicting scheduled events, respectively, the second event scheduling metadata which originates from a network entity based at least in part on selection metrics associated with a first user associated with the CPE;

a user interface configured to receive user selection input;

a computer application comprising a plurality of instructions which are configured to when executed by a processor;

cause the CPE to tune to the first scheduled event from a network based on the first event scheduling metadata;

activate delivery of a list of the first and second conflicting scheduled events based on the first and second event scheduling metadata and a user-initiated interrupt request to interrupt the delivery of the first scheduled event;

cause the CPE to tune to the second scheduled event based on a user selection of the second scheduled event from the delivered list and the second event scheduling metadata; and

provide data that relates to the user selection to the network entity.

24. The CPE of claim 23, wherein the plurality of instructions are further configured to transmit one or more metrics to the network, the one or more metrics being configured to identify the first scheduled event that has been interrupted.

25. The CPE of claim 24, wherein the transmitted one or more metrics further identify a viewing profile.

26. The CPE of claim 25, wherein the viewing profile is further associated with said user.

27. The CPE of claim 25, wherein the viewing profile is further associated with a household audience.